Aqua Young was instantly a superstar when she gracefully raised her dainty hand and danced onto stage. A waterfall of blonde cascaded down to her hips from her Barbie doll head, and her bright eyes were huge to the camera which screened to all of Panem.
Aqua was beaming like she'd done this before; in fact, she had trained herself to become the Hunger Game's most beloved contestant. Her brain was washed. Brainwashed, and she believed all her life's purpose held was the Games.
Her parents had paid an expensive genetic stylist to perfect Aqua to their standards - huge, almost unreal aqua eyes, a long mane of a beautiful shade of blonde hair. Then came her childhood years - no playing outside, no friends. She spent most of them switching off hours between the studies, proper etiquette and the capitol's formal attire, to her training. The only people she socialized with were actors hired by her parents - Aqua would have to be deemed perfect in order to earn sponsors and make it far. She barely spent any time outside of their house. As luxurious as a home could be, Aqua craved more. This indeed was her parents intention.
As soon as Aqua was released from her home, she'd want to only to stay out. She'd fight and act the way she was trained and become the champion! What great honor her parents would have.
Unlike Asher, her twin brother, Aqua was deemed perfect. This sparked some resentment in Asher, yet he knew about the Capitol's mind bending schemes. He knew it was his last chance, after 17 years, he might be able to see his sister. He hugged her goodbye - an air hug. The empty space between them felt like a mile apart.
"Aqua Young! Your District 4 female tribute!" the announcer ran his eyes over her flattering skin tight aqua dress.
She rolled her eyes ands laughed in a way that suggested flirtation. The male tribute was called, and they subsided to their goodbye bunkers, but Aqua didn't quit her charade. In fact, after all she'd been through, she herself wasn't an act anymore. She had become the Capitol's lapdog, sparking a raging wave of jealousy throughout the Districts.
*.*.*
Kat was nervously twisting her bikini top's strap between her two fingers, ringing out the remaining drops of water. She pulled a yellow sundress over the top and prepared for the date. May 8th, to be exact.
The reaping, commonly anticipated by the districts before hers, sparked a sense of dread in the 5th District.
Kat was worried beyond her 15 years. She truly didn't want to leave her family - aside from her father.
The chaos developed over the years as Kat's father grew lonelier and began clinically depressed. Though he sometimes didn't show it to the public, he sure had an odd method of 'affection' at home. Even a sarcastic portray of affection didn't show what their household offered Kat and her older sister Savanna.
Their father beat them constantly, and more and more so in the recent years. Kat - Liz Sorrel - was called Kat because of the way her eyes resembled one of a cat's, and also because she could a very convincing purr. Jess loved Kat's purr, as she loved Kat.
Their abnormal relationship was the cause of many beatings in the house - her father didn't approve - and Kat learned that it was easier and better to be out of the house, swimming or with Jess.
On the other hand, her mother-daughter relationship was constantly blooming, and her relationship with Savanna was just as well. Savanna had dark makeup lined eyes, and never swam unlike Kat. Even as the two sisters were day and night, they both needed each other to survive.
When they called "Elizabeth Sorrel" from the stage, Kat quietly broke down and sobbed, then against the guard's will, hugged Savanna and her mom, swiftly her dad, and kissed Jess for the world and her father to see before continuing onto the platform.
The male's name was called, but as of the moment, she could care less.